ancient greek goddess of health, sanitation and cleanliness

hygeia is the daughter of Asclepius, god of medicine. her name is the source of the word "hygiene" as she is the personification of preventative medicine and health preservation. shes commonly seen in art holding a serpent which symbolizes healing, she also appears beside her father.

hygiea is focused on maintaining good health and preventing disease. she's considered a goddess of both mental and physical health. she's one of the several healing-related deities alongside her sisters Panacea - goddess of cure all and Iaso - goddess of remedy.

she can be found referenced in the hippocratic oath, which is used by physicians in order to swear before many different healing gods that they will follow a code of established ethical standards of practice regrading medicine. "i swear by apollo healer, by asclepius, by hygieia, by panacea and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that i will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture"

the bowl of hygeia

the bowl of hygeia is one of the symbols of pharmacology as well as the rod of asclepius, it's one of the most important and ancient symbols of medicine in western countries. it's a cup or chalice with a snake twined around the stem.

it's been used as a symbol of the pharmacy profession as far back as 1796 when it was used by the parisian society of pharmacy on a coin. it's been adopted by many different associations such as the american pharmacists, canadian and australia. the mortat and pestle is a more common symbol with pharmacies in the usa.

the bowl of hygeia represents health, healing and medicine. the bowl represents the preparation of remedies or the medicinal potion. the snake symbolizes potency, healing and rebirth. it's usually seen drinking from the bowl which symbolizes the careful application of medicine.